Vilnius "Knights" in FPRO Cup after a fierce battle lost to Gargzdai "Waves" club

2024-05-07 21:53 © fk Riteriai

In the second round of the FPRO Lithuanian Football Federation (LFF) Cup matches, Vilnius team "Riteriai" met at home with Gargždai team "Banga", who plays in the "TopSport A League". After a tough battle and extra time, the guests from Gargždai managed to win 5:3. Goals for the capital team were scored by Gustas Gumbaravičius, Jonas Usavičius, and Andrius Kaulinis.

"Riteriai" won 4:2 in the first stage of the FPRO LFF Cup tournament against Klaipėda's "Neptūnas", who plays in the "TopSport First League", and in the second stage they faced Gargždai's "Banga" competing in the country's elite football division. Throughout history, "Riteriai" and "Banga" have met only once in the cup tournament, in 2020. That time, "Riteriai" defeated their opponents with a score of 2:0. In total, "Riteriai" and "Banga" have faced each other 21 times. The capital team has won 10 times, "Banga" has triumphed eight times and three encounters ended in a draw.

In these matches, "Riteriai" coach Slavomiras Cisakovskis fielded the same starting eleven as in the previous "TopSport First League" clash against Vilnius BFA. Three former "Riteriai" representatives - Justinas Januševskij, Matas Ramanauskas, and Valdas Paulauskas - appeared in the starting lineup for "Banga", while Dovydas Norvilas remained on the bench.

The match started without major incidents, with the guests from Gargždai rushing into the attack, followed by the home team's offensive responses. In the 4th minute, Jonas Usavičius struck powerfully at the opponents' goal, shortly after "Banga" goalkeeper Manta Bertašius was tested by Ernestas Januševič.

After withstanding the first "Riteriai" wave of attacks, "Banga" players took the initiative and tried to besiege the Vilnius team's goal. In the 9th minute, Vaidas Magdušauskas struck at goal from a comfortable position, but Andrius Kaulinis redirected the ball into a corner. A minute later, Armantas Vitkauskas grabbed the ball from V. Magdušauskas' feet in the box.

However, a goal arrived in the 15th minute at the "Banga" goal. After a high delivery into the penalty area, "Riteriai" won the aerial duel, with Gustas Gumbaravičius heading the ball into the visitors' net.

After a short break in the second half, the home team could have increased their lead, but Robertas Vėževičius's shot from a few meters shook the crossbar of A.Vitkauskas' goal. In turn, in the 103rd minute, E.Onah had a great opportunity to equalize the score, but his shot was caught by M.Bertašius.

Before the second period of extra time, Kajus Stankevičius and Daumantas Lipinskas appeared on the field. Nevertheless, the conditions in extra time were dictated by the visitors from Gargždai, and their victory was consolidated by a goal from D.Norvilas.

"Riteriai" lineup: A.Vitkauskas, M.Rutkovskis, G.Gumbaravičius (98 min. A.Rosiver), N.Stankevičius, A.Kazakevičius (106 min. K.Stankevičius), A.Šveistrys (106 min. D.Lipinskas), D.Rimpa, S.Civilka (112 min. N.Petkus), A.Kaulinis, J.Usavičius (87 min. O.Kozhevnikov), E.Zdanovič (78 min. E.Onah).